From Start to Finish, HBO’s 8-Part Crime Miniseries Is a Masterpiece of Justice and Consequences

One night changes Naz’s life

Naz Khan, played by Riz Ahmed, is a college student who borrows his father’s taxi without permission for a night out in Manhattan. He gives Andrea Cornish, played by Sofia Black-D’Elia, a ride home and later wakes in her apartment to find her stabbed to death.

Naz leaves without contacting police, making choices driven by fear that help build the case against him. After police apprehend him, defense attorney John Stone, played by John Turturro, and detective Dennis Box, played by Bill Camp, become central figures in the investigation.

An investigation and its consequences

The series follows the evidence against Naz while leaving questions about his guilt and innocence in view. It also depicts a justice system shaped by self-interest, as Naz’s future hangs in the balance and the investigation becomes part of other people’s work.

Box is a veteran detective nearing retirement who wants to wrap up his final case. The story also includes Naz’s parents, played by Payman Maadi and Poorna Jagannathan, and Freddy Knight, played by the late Michael Kenneth Williams, who becomes an unlikely mentor to Naz.

Performances sustain the slow burn

Across eight episodes, some running as long as 1 hour and 35 minutes, the drama maintains its pace through its ensemble performances. Ahmed and Turturro portray an unlikely partnership as they work to challenge the circumstantial evidence against Naz.

Camp plays Box as a detective balancing competing approaches, while Paul Sparks portrays Andrea’s stepfather, whose relationship with her was strained. The series also draws attention to its direction, writing and visual storytelling.

A lasting HBO crime drama

Released in 2016, The Night Of earned five Emmys, including Outstanding Cinematography and Lead Actor for Ahmed. It also holds a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. The series is presented as one of HBO’s acclaimed crime miniseries, alongside titles such as Chernobyl, Band of Brothers and Angels in America. Its eight-part story combines a murder investigation with a portrait of the people and institutions surrounding Naz’s case.